Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below shows the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The bar chart illustrates about yearly earnings of number of households in US - 2007,2011 and 2015.

Overall, annual income of people who earn $50,000-$99,999 remained almost same throughout the period. Yearly income of people of other households had relatively changed.

Twenty five million households earn less than $25000 in 2007. However, it was slightly increased by around five million households in 2011 later it decreased slightly in 2015. In 2007, around twenty six million families earn $25,000 - $49,999. Although it increased slightly in 2011 but slip back to twenty seven million households in 2015.

Almost twenty million households had annual income of $50,000-$74,999 in all three years. Likewise, Around fifteen million people earn $75,000 - $99,999 in 2007, 2011 and 2015. In 2007 and 2015 maximum households (i.e; approximately 30) families earn $1,00,000 every year. Unfortunately, they are on top earning people in those years. But their count is decreased by two percent in 2011.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several relevant patterns, including the stability of the $50,000–$74,999 group and the rise and later slight fall in the under-$25,000 category. However, some figures and comparisons are inaccurate: the $25,000–$49,999 group was about 27 million in 2007, not 26 million, and about 28.5 million in 2015, not 27 million. The highest-income group reached roughly 33.5 million in 2015, rather than about 30 million, and its 2011 fall was not “two percent.” The overview is also imprecise: the $75,000–$99,999 category varied slightly, while the highest-income group rose markedly by 2015. Select the clearest overall trends and report comparisons more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs of figures. This gives the reader a coherent overall arrangement, and linking expressions such as “However,” “Although” and “Likewise” help connect points. Some connections are less clear or mechanical, though. For example, “Although it increased slightly in 2011 but slip back” combines two contrasting linkers, and “Unfortunately” introduces a data trend as if it were a negative event. The final paragraph also moves between income groups without clearly distinguishing the $75,000–$99,999 and $100,000-or-more categories. Grouping the lower-income bands together, then the higher-income bands, and using precise references to each category would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “households,” “annual income,” “increased,” “decreased” and “remained,” so the main information is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing this chart. “Yearly earnings of number of households” does not clearly express what is measured, while “people who earn” shifts attention from household counts to individuals. “Slip back” is informal, and “two percent” is not an appropriate description of the change shown. The phrase “top earning people” is also imprecise. Use consistent terms such as “the number of households in the income band,” and choose neutral reporting verbs such as “rose,” “fell” and “stood at” to make comparisons clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including contrast clauses with “However” and “Although,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in verb forms, sentence construction and agreement. For example, “Twenty five million households earn” should use a past form to match the years, and “Although it increased slightly in 2011 but slip back” has an incomplete, faulty clause structure. In “their count is decreased,” the passive form is incorrect for this meaning; use “their number decreased.” The opening sentence also lacks a clear grammatical structure. Check tense consistency when describing past data, and make sure each sentence has a complete, correctly linked clause.

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